As New England is visited by frosty Nor’easters, many are finding ways to stay warm and reminiscing about warm days gone by. One interesting fact that still amazes me is the vast difference in weather in New England – blistering summers and frigid winters. As storm Juno was commencing, I remember a customer telling me that he was vacationing in Florida, and I found it fascinating that both of us were experiencing the same day and time but two totally different weather patterns. And I realized that all of this hung on one factor – the sun. This flaming ball of gas floating billions of miles away makes life as we know it possible. It’s not just a star, it’s a super-star! Keep reading to see more reasons why.

Do you have aspirations that you keep putting off? Or maybe you started, but quit before you really got going. All over the world and throughout history people have had dreams, goals, and desires that seem like little more than pipe dreams and “could-be’s” with no hope of becoming reality.

In that same way, Solar was just an imagination once. Built on the faith that the Sun could indeed power the world, the pioneers of the solar revolution started taking steps to make it happen. With no clear road map of how to move ahead, engineers, scientists, world changers, and “ordinary” people just started moving; discovering that the next step was lit only as they took the one before. And the result of their leap of faith? The largest growing industry in the country! Producing thousands of jobs while relieving the burden on overwhelmed utility grids, solar provides an answer to so many concerns that the world is facing.

The use of solar energy, whether as a heating source or a power source, has existed for centuries. Regardless of its technical application (heating water, or generating electricity), the understanding was that power of the sun could be harnessed and utilized.

The question is always asked “If [photovoltaic] solar is so good, why doesn’t everybody do it”? Outside of the physical limitations (limited roof space, or excessive shading), that could prevent would-be solar homeowners from going solar, there are still reasons why some of the “one out of 5 homeowners” who qualify to go solar, choose not to. Today, though the concept of harnessing the sun’s power being one of antiquity, the “why” people choose (or choose not) to harness this power remain the same: it is a matter of understanding.

Have you ever thought to yourself “Where can I go to escape the frost and catch some sun?” Trust me, living in New England; this question starts to bud in my mind right around the first day of fall. Well, for all of you fellow snowbirds, we’ve done some research and compiled a list of the top 10 winter vacation spots. Leave your furry winter coats and insulated gloves behind for these locations. So, pack up the suitcases and make sure to bring your sunscreen! Let’s check them out!

#1: Kauai, Hawaii
Honey-dipped sunsets, chocolate-sand beaches, aquamarine skies — Kauai has mastered the art of adventure and relaxation. But the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain doesn’t have to resort to over-the-top luxury or tourist traps to entice; instead, it appeals to a no-muss, no-fuss type of traveler.